On a street, where I have lived exists a road and a gate. The gate
allows or restricts access to a public area park that is run by the Army
Corps of Engineers or 'The Government' for short. Most of the time,
that gate is open and travel over the road is permitted, but at other
times it's been closed. This is usually because the Corps had determined
that potential hazards might exist. But take note, it's the government
and
not the the People who are making that decision and that's precisely why I have a problem with it in the first place!
Here
in America, where we all enjoy a representative form of Republic where
we are granted certain rights among which are basic individual freedoms;
'Individual freedom is a complex of values. In its most basic form,
individual freedom is the freedom to live as you choose as long as you
harm no one else. Each nation, each epoch in history, perhaps each
individual, may define this ideal of individual freedom in different
terms. In its noblest of expressions, individual freedom is enshrined in
our Bill of Rights. It is freedom of conscience, freedom of speech,
economic freedom, and freedom to choose your unique life style.'
In
the United States, you see millions of individuals who make many
choices every day. Some are good and others not so good. The point being
is that we
do get to choose... Excepting when a gate controlled by the government happens to block your way forward...
Now
I know what many are thinking right now, 'Hey dummy, They close that
road to protect you from harm!' To which I would replay, 'Oh, yeah? Why?
Because I'm to slow to figure things out for myself?' In point of fact,
there didn't used to be a gate there in the past at all! And, drivers
made up their own minds if it was safe to proceed or not and few if any
ever got hurt. Why exactly could they do this, back then? Because most
everyone had a measure of common sense! Now, let me switch gears...
One of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, expressed his fears of giving too much power to the government thusly - '
In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in
man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.'
Concentrated political power frightened the Founders. They believed
that only by limiting government could liberty survive the
natural
tendency of man to dictate the habits of other men. The balanced
separation of power with checks was designed to prevent tyranny. Each
branch was given delineated powers, and then each of these powers was
limited and checked by another branch or entity. The system was
purposely designed to slow governmental actions enough to allow due
deliberation. This frustrates those who want the government to always
“do something” about every problem (rules and restrictions), but it also hampers the government
from doing something grievous that affects our life, liberty, and
pursuit of happiness.
I close by stating this... 'Tear down that fucking gate!'
